International News
Huge Blast Kills Two, Injures 26 In Northern China
A huge suspected gas explosion at a restaurant in northern China killed two people and injured 26 more during Wednesday rush hour, state media reported, causing severe damage to buildings.
The blast occurred just before 8:00 am (0000 GMT), state broadcaster CCTV said, in a residential area in the city of Sanhe, Hebei province, less than 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of the centre of Bejing.

CCTV reported at 1:30 pm that two people had since died and that 26 were injured. The fire has been extinguished, it added.
The explosion was suspected to have been caused by a gas leak at a fried chicken shop, state media reported.
“I heard a great big bang… which scared me stiff,” a seller at a local market told AFP.
“Outside, I saw clouds of black smoke,” they added.
Another seller said they also heard a “huge bang” from the blast site, in a bustling area of squat apartment blocks about six or seven floors high.
An AFP team at the scene also observed police waving oncoming traffic away from an entrance to the neighbourhood where the explosion occurred.
From a police cordon on the north side of the blast zone, they could see a tower of grey smoke a few hundred metres (yards) away, with what appeared to be a crane positioned near it.
– ‘Destroyed’ –
Footage online circulated by state media showed a huge explosion that sent plumes of smoke and fire across a busy road.
Another video on social media verified by AFP showed what appeared to be a building that had completely collapsed as well as several destroyed cars and debris strewn across the street.
The blast blew out shop facades opposite, footage shared on video-sharing site Douyin showed. The uploader told AFP the explosion took place 200 metres from her home.
Rescue workers rushed to the scene, with the local Langfang fire department saying 36 emergency vehicles and 154 personnel had been dispatched.
A merchant working at a nearby store told state-run Jimu News she had been in her shop when she heard a bang.
She ran out of her store and saw a building on fire, she said, adding that “the whole building was virtually destroyed”.
– Accidents common –
Explosions and other deadly accidents are common in China due to lax safety standards and poor enforcement.
Last month, at least 15 people were killed and 44 injured in a fire at a residential building in the eastern city of Nanjing.
In January, dozens died after a fire broke out at a store in the central city of Xinyu, with state news agency Xinhua reporting the blaze had been caused by the “illegal” use of fire by workers in the store’s basement.
That fire came just days after a late-evening blaze at a school in central Henan province killed 13 schoolchildren as they slept in a dormitory.
Domestic media reports suggested the fire was caused by an electric heating device.
In November last year, 26 people were killed and dozens sent to hospital after a fire at a coal company office in northern Shanxi province.
Last June, an explosion at a barbecue restaurant in the northwest of the country left 31 dead and prompted official pledges of a nationwide campaign to promote workplace safety.
AFP
International News
JUST IN: Museveni Sworn In For 7th Term At 81 As President Of Ugand
Yoweri Museveni has been sworn in for his seventh term as President of Uganda on May 12, 2026, at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, following his victory in the January 2026 elections.
Recall Museveni won with 71.65 percent of the vote, defeating his main challenger, 43-year-old Bobi Wine, who received 24.72 percent of the vote, according to the official results.

The 81-year-old leader took his oath for another five-year term, continuing his tenure as one of Africa’s longest-serving leaders.
Museveni, born 1944 in Mbarra district area of Uganda has served as president since 1986.
He started his education in 1953 at Kyamate Boys School, then joined Mbarara High School in 1959.

After his family’s migration from Ntungamo in 1960s, then within the British Protectorate of Uganda, he was admitted to Ntare School in 1961.
He studied political science from the University of Dar es Salaam where he initiated the University Students’ African Revolutionary Front.
International News
Tragedy as Nigerian Boy Drowns in Canadian Lake
The family of a 12-year-old Nigerian boy, Damilola Afolabi who drowned in a Canadian lake, has been thrown into mourning after the tragic incident occurred barely two months after they relocated abroad in search of a better life.
Damilola reportedly drowned at Mahogany Lake in Calgary on Sunday after jumping into the water while playing with friends
According to reports, the boy did not know how to swim and failed to resurface after entering the lake.
He was later pulled from the bottom of the lake and rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The deceased was buried on Wednesday at the Muslim Cemetery of Calgary as relatives and members of the community gathered to mourn him.
Speaking on the tragedy, family spokesperson Patrick Adda said the family had only recently moved from Ghana to Canada and were still trying to settle into their new environment.
“They came in here,” Adda said. “They have no one. And all of us here. We’re like angels that came in their lives to see how best we can help them migrating to the best place to live and work, which is in Calgary.”
According to the family, Damilola had been trying to make new friends and adapt to life in Canada. He was said to enjoy riding bicycles and spending time outdoors in his neighbourhood.
His grieving father, Jubreel Afolabi, said his son had returned from church on the day of the incident before asking to go outside and play.
“On Sunday, my son just came from the church, and he wanted to play a little at the front of the house,” he said.
“That’s the end. I would never see my son again, when I see my son, I saw his body lying there.”
The distraught father added that the family relocated abroad hoping to secure a brighter future for their children.
“When we were about to leave Ghana Dami said, ‘Daddy, thank you for the good life you are going to give us in Canada,’” Jubreel recalled emotionally.
“I didn’t know that my son would never be with me at this moment anymore.”
Damilola was one of four children in the family. Adda revealed that his younger sister has continued asking about him since his death.
“His little sister calls him Da,” Adda said. “And the little sister, who is just a few years old, had Da changing her diapers and everything, and she was asking,
‘Where is Da?’”
The incident has also reignited concerns over safety at Mahogany Lake, where several drowning cases have been recorded over the years.
Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas reacted to the tragedy, saying it raises serious questions about public safety infrastructure around the lake area.
“It does make a bigger question, though, in terms of the type of supports and infrastructure and equipment we provide for our Calgary police and county fire departments,” he said.
Still overwhelmed by grief, the boy’s father said burying his son was a painful experience no parent should endure.
“I wish my sons would be the ones to bury me and not the other way around,” Jubreel said.
Reports added that a crowdfunding campaign has since been launched to support the bereaved family.
International News
Arsene Wenger Tackles Rooney Over Arsenal Win Celebration Comment
Arsene Wenger made his feelings clear on Arsenal’s celebrations after the win over Atletico Madrid – and they were different to Wayne Rooney’s
Arsene Wenger has leapt to Arsenal’s defence over their Champions League celebrations, insisting they were ‘deserved’ and ‘normal’ after Wayne Rooney’s brutal criticism. The England icon immediately took aim at Mikel Arteta and the players by claiming the jubilant scenes at the end were over the top.
Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal just before half-time to clinch a 2-1 aggregate win and set up a final against either Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain.
The Gunners celebrated wildly after the final whistle, drawing criticism from Rooney, who was at the Emirates as a pundit for Prime Video. The Manchester United legend said: “They deserve to be in this position but they haven’t won it yet. I think the celebrations are a little bit too much. Celebrate when you win.”
Legendary former Gunners boss Wenger disagreed with that stance, insisting the Gunners had every right to enjoy the moment. Speaking on beIN Sports, the Frenchman said: “They celebrate well tonight, which is normal, but you want to focus already on the final and the next games.
“The celebration is deserved and happiness is normal – absolutely normal – but the next step is to go to the final and win in.”
Wenger felt that the Gunners were worthy winners, saying: “I think Arsenal wanted it a bit more than Atleti and they were more decisive in the duels.
“We said before the game that to go to the final, they needed to be strong defensively and they didn’t concede a goal tonight. They played a team who for 45 minutes absolutely needed to score a goal and they didn’t give them a chance.
“I believe it shows how strong Arsenal are defensively and how disciplined they are, as well as the limitations of Atletico, who were not good enough in the final third.
“In the end, it’s a well-deserved win for Arsenal, there’s no doubt they were the better team over the two legs.”
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